Counterbalances for distributors of cabling machines



March 26, 1963 D. v. WATERS COUNTERBALANCES FOR DISTRIBUTORS OF CABLING MACHINES Filed March 5, 1962 I l VENT'UE D. LUHTEF'E 3,0825% COUNTERBALANCES FGR DISTRIBUTORS 9F CABLTNG MAtIHiNES Daniel V. Waters, Lebanon, N.J., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N.Y., a

corporation of New York Filed Mar. 5, B62, Ser. No. 177,669 3 Claims. (Cl. 57-665) This invention relates to counterbalances for distributors, particularly those used in distributing cable on reels or core trucks in cabling machines.

In the manufacture of cable, particularly telephone cable, the cable is distributed on a reel or core truck disposed in the takeup unit of the cabling machine, the reel or core truck being rotated about its axis so that the distributor, driven between limits, may cause the cable to lie in adjacent convolutions thereon. In most instances, the distributor is moved by a threaded shaft driven by a reversible motor. However, in addition to the reel or core truck being notated about its own axis, it is also rotated about an axis at right angles to its own axis to cause twisting of the conductors and cable units together into a compact formation. This rotation of the reel or core truck results in varying centrifugal forces affecting the distributor as it moves alternately in opposing directions from a central position where the forces on the distributor are balanced to outer limits where the forces are at the maximum. These actions tend to create binding conditions and frictional disturbances between the threaded portion of the distributor and the threaded shaft. As a result there is a constant strain on the driving means for the distributor to supply the variations in the driving torque required to move the distributor at the desired speed to and from the desired limits.

Centrifugal force impels the distributor to move to its outermost position at either end of its travel. If a steep-angled distributor screw, or one with a ball nut is used, the screw will tend to overhaul or drive its driving mechanism during the outward movements of the distributor.

Conversely, when the distributor is returning to its central position, the driving mechanism must furnish torque suflicient to overcome the normal distributor load and, in addition, must furnish torque sufficient to bring the distributor to its central position against centrifugal force. This may amount to more than its normal driving load in addition to the latter.

The object of this invention is to remove these disturbances by counterbalancing the centrifugal forces on the distributor.

In accordance with the object, the invention is disposed in a takeup unit of a cabling machine having a reel rotated about its axis to wind the cable thereon and the reel rotated about a second axis at right angles to the reel axis to twist' the cable prior to the cable reaching a distributor moved alternately in reverse directions to given limits from a central position and in a path parallel with the axis of the reel to distribute the cable on the reel. The counterbalance for the distributor includes an elongated flexible member secured at one end to a portion of the distributor adjacent the center thereof and extending between guides mounted on opposing sides of a plane extending through the central position of the distributor. Normally, the centrifugal forces on the distributor are balanced when the distributor is at the central position and said forces increase with movements alternately toward the limits. Therefore, means is operatively connected to the other end portion of the flexible member to apply variable counterbalance forces to the distributor through the flexible member.

3,682,592 Patented Mar. 26, 1963 Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational View of the counterbalance connected to a distributor in a takeup unit of a cabling machine;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken along the lines 22 of FIG. 1; and,

FIG. 3 is a schematic isometric view illustrating the axes of rotation of the reel.

The various details of the cabling machine selected for the illustration of the invention and the takeup unit therefor are not shown as these features are believed well known in the art. In the present illustration, a reel or core truck 10 is shown with its distributor mechanisms indicated generally at 11. Through the conventional means, not shown, the reel 10 is rotated about its axis 12, to wind a cable 14 thereon. Through other conventional means, not shown, the reel 10 is rotated about an axis 15 to form the usual twist in the cable as it is pulled through a forming die 16, and advances to the reel through a guide 17 in a distributor 18. The distributor 18, in the present instance, is moved in opposing direction from a central position indicated generally at 20, to outer limits indicated generally at '21 and 22. Suitable means, such as a guide rod 23, may have the ends fixedly supported at 24 by any suitable means. The moving means for the distributor consists of a conventional threaded shaft 25 supported at 26 against axial movement but free to rotate in an internally threaded portion of the distributor through the aid of a reversible motor 28 and a suitable gear box 29.

The counterbalance for the distributor 18 includes a flexible member 30. In the present instance, the flexible member 30 is a chain formed of three sets or series of links including a central set 31 and two outer sets 32. If desirable, the flexible member may be of any other desired structure, such as single, double or triple cable. One end of the elongated flexible member 30 is secured at 34 to a portion of the distributor 18 adjacent the centcr thereof. Guides 36 and 37 are mounted upon opposing sides of a plane extending through the distributor 18 when it is in its central position. These guides, in the present instance, are rotatable, a double sprocket 36, and a rotatable single sprocket 37 mounted on their respective spindles 38 and 39. It the elongated flexible member 30 should be a cable then the guides 36 and 37 would be grooved rollers mounted in their respective positions to receive the cable.

The means to apply a varying force to the flexible member 3% to counterbalance the centrifugal forces created by movement of the distributor in opposite direction from the central position 20 is embodied in a spring 40 fixed at one end to a bracket 41 and at the other end to a yoke 42 which straddles a rotatable member 43 for the flexible member 30. In the present instance, the member 43 is a sprocket for interengagement with the chain (flexible member 30) or the central portion 31 thereof. If the flexible member 39 should be a cable then the member 43 would be a grooved roller. The other end of the flexible member 30 is fixed at 44 to a stationary member 45 after a loop 46 is formed therein about the member 43.

Operation Prior to considering the operation of the counterbalance, it should be understood that the initial counterbalance force embodied in the spring 40' is created by the selection of a spring of a predetermined type and expanded to a definite initial position or to create a pre determined initial force therein when the distributor is in its central position. Furthermore, the spring will apply given variable forces through the elongated member 30 to the distributor to counterbalance the centrifugal forces applied to the distributor as it moves away in either direction'from the central position. Therefore, regardless of the starting position of the distributor, the centrifugal forces of the distributor will be balanced.

' Let it be assumed that the distributor is at its central position 20 when the machine is set in operation. At this instance, the sprocket 43 will be at its starting position illustrated in broken lines in FIG. 1. As the distributor moves outwardly, for example, toward the solid line position 21, the flexible member 30 will move around the pair ofsprockets 36 and cause the sprocket 43 to be moved toward its solid line position resulting in the gradual expansion of the spring 40 to cause application of increasing counterbalancing force to the distributor as the centrifugal forces thereon increase resulting in a balanced condition in the distributor as it is moved by the threaded shaftZS toward and'to the position 21. As the distributor is reversed in the direction of movement leaving the position 21 and advancing to the central position 20, the spring 40, through the action of the flexible member 30 will proportionally decrease its force applied through the flexible member to the distributor until it reaches the minimum force applied at the central position. Continuing with the movement of the distributor 18 toward the position 22 when the distributor leaves the central position, the flexible member 30 will no longer move about the sprockets 36 but about the sprocket 37 and its advance toward the position 22 with the flexible member will again cause expansion of the spring 40 proportionally to the movement of the distributor away from the central portion 20. Through these actions, the sprockets 36 and 37 remain in contact with their respective links of the flexible member 30 so that there is not a jumping of the flexible member from one guide or sprocket to another, but there is a smooth, uniform transfer of the flexible member as it moves in either direction from the central position 20 toward its outer positions 21 and 22. Furthermore, the flexible element 30 is moving between the member 43 and the guides 36 and 37 move in the plane which extends through the distributor when in its central position 20.

It is to be understood that the above described ar rangements are simply illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In a takeup unit for a cabling machine having a reel rotated about its axis to wind a cable thereon and rotated about a second axis at right angles to the reel axis to twist the cable prior to the cable reaching a distributor moved alternately in reverse directions to given limits from a central position and in a path parallel with the axis of the reel to distribute the cable on the reel, a counterbalance for the distributor comprising an elongated flexible member, means to secure one end of the flexible member to the distributor adjacent the center thereof, guides for the flexible member mounted on opposing sides of a plane extending through the central position of the distributor, centrifugal forces on the distributor being balanced when the distributor is at the central position and said forces increasing with movements alternately toward the limits, means operatively connected to the other end portion of the flexible member to apply variable counterbalancing forces to the distributor through the flexible member, a loop being formed in the flexible member adjacent the other end thereof, means to secure said other end of the flexible member at a fixed position, and a rotatable member disposed in the loop of the flexible member and serving as the operative connection between the counterbalancing force applying means and the flexible element.

2. 'In a takeup unit for a cabling machine having a reel rotated about its axis to wind a cable thereon and rotated about a second axis at right angles to the reel axis to twist the cable prior to the cable reaching a distributor moved alternately in reverse directions to given limits from a central position and in a path parallel with the axis-of the reel to distribute the cable on the reel, a counterbalance for the distributor comprising an elongated flexible member, means to secure one end of the flexible member to the distributor'adjacent the center thereof, spindles mounted on opposing sides of a plane extending through the central position of the distributor, rotatable guides for the flexible member mounted on the spindles so that peripheries thereof will be disposed adjacent said plane, a loop formed in the flexible member between the rotatable guides and the other end of the member, means to secure the other end of the flexible member to a fixed position, a rotatable member disposed in the loop of the flexible member, centrifugal forces on the distributor being balanced when the distributor is at the central position and said forces increasing and then decreasing with movements of the distributor alternately toward and away from the limits, and a helical spring having one end mounted at a fixed position, the other end being secured to an axis of the rotatable member, and the spring having a predetermined initial force when the distributor is at the central position and caused to be expanded varying degrees by the flexible member when the distributor moves relative to the central position and the limits to apply varying counterbalancing forces to the distributor.

3. A counterbalance for a distributor according to claim 2 in which the flexible element is a chain and the rotatable guides and the rotatable member are sprockets for positive interengagement with the chain.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,763,979- Swanson Sept. 25, 1956 

1. IN A TAKEUP UNIT FOR A CABLING MACHINE HAVING A REEL ROTATED ABOUT ITS AXIS TO WIND A CABLE THEREON AND ROTATED ABOUT A SECOND AXIS AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE REEL AXIS TO TWIST THE CABLE PRIOR TO THE CABLE REACHING A DISTRIBUTOR MOVED ALTERNATELY IN REVERSE DIRECTIONS TO GIVEN LIMITS FROM A CENTRAL POSITION AND IN A PATH PARALLEL WITH THE AXIS OF THE REEL TO DISTRIBUTE THE CABLE ON THE REEL, A COUNTERBALANCE FOR THE DISTRIBUTOR COMPRISING AN ELONGATED FLEXIBLE MEMBER, MEANS TO SECURE ONE END OF THE FLEXIBLE MEMBER TO THE DISTRIBUTOR ADJACENT THE CENTER THEREOF, GUIDES FOR THE FLEXIBLE MEMBER MOUNTED ON OPPOSING SIDES OF A PLANE EXTENDING THROUGH THE CENTRAL POSITION OF THE DISTRIBUTOR, CENTRIFUGAL FORCES ON THE DISTRIBUTOR BEING BALANCED WHEN THE DISTRIBUTOR IS AT THE CENTRAL POSITION AND SAID FORCES INCREASING WITH MOVEMENTS ALTERNATELY TOWARD THE LIMITS, MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE OTHER END PORTION OF THE FLEXIBLE MEMBER TO APPLY VARIABLE COUNTERBALANCING FORCES TO THE DISTRIBUTOR THROUGH THE FLEXIBLE MEMBER, A LOOP BEING FORMED IN THE FLEXIBLE MEMBER ADJACENT THE OTHER END THEREOF, MEANS TO SECURE SAID OTHER END OF THE FLEXIBLE MEMBER AT A FIXED 